CSI Skull

I recently got a phone call from Catherine Ortiz and Layla Rushing at Feeling Frameous, a custom picture framing shop in Studio City, California. They had been asked by the production people at the television show CSI to create an original folded dollar bill skull for an episode of the program. And for reference they gave them...my own Skullar Bill image! So Catherine and Layla tracked me down to ask if they could have permission to just fold their own version of my design and if I could give them a pattern. I was happy to give them permission, but sad to tell them that no pattern existed! We discussed how I believe it had been made and they said they'd give it a try, but in the end they decided to create their own unique skull dollar...

I love the end result and I'm glad a new skull design was created in the process. And even though my work won't end up in an episode of CSI it was fun getting to have a random conversation with some interesting folks I would have probably never met otherwise.

The episode of CSI, with their skull bill is scheduled to air on May 26th, so keep an eye out!

[UPDATE] Since a few people asked, I got Catherine to describe how they made it and here's what she said: "We took a piece of paper the size & shape of $ and mashed it around a champagne cork.  The jaw line sticks out a little more than the top of the head.  Stuff the skull with crumbled up paper.  take a strip of paper about 1/2 " wide and accordian fold the teeth.  Take another 2 strips of paper and roll them around a pencil to make the eyes.  Glue them together and cram them into the skull.  The crumpled up paper in the skull give the other stuff something to stick to.  That's it roughly.  As the day went on we resorted to my new favorite folding term  "pushing & mashing".  There is no pattern. Good luck."

Martha Stewart's Skull

Today's skulls are actually potato stamp images made by me (left) and Martha Stewart (right) during my appearance on The Martha Stewart Show (which airs today in most cities, and Monday on the Fine Living Network)...


I actually went up to the New York earlier this week to tape the show, which is done before a live audience.

The day before the shoot I got to meet the awesome folks that work in the craft department. They were setting up the materials we would need on the set (including displaying some of my own skulls that I brought along). I got a quick rundown on what was happening and I was even given a scoop of custom Martha Stewart M&Ms with her face on them...


The next day I went to the studio and was met by the associate producer for the segment who showed me to my private dressing room! However it wasn't long before I was ushered onto the kitchen part of the set to prepare a "Peanut Butter and Skully" to share with Martha. They very kindly provided organic peanut butter, jelly and bread, just like I used on the original!...


After I was done I got to check out the enormous, incredibly detailed set, where I would be doing my thing. I actually met Martha briefly and she said a few kind words about my book before I had to get back to preparing (you can see her in the distance in this image)....


Then I had to do a dress rehearsal of my part with the segment producer who played the role of Martha. We went through the questions I would be answering so that they could prepare the appropriate graphics and camera angles. The taping is done in order with all the actual titles and graphics, so everything has to be planned very carefully.


After all of the other segments had their dress rehearsals (with their own producers) it was time to bring in the audience. I was in the first two segments so I waited in the wings while Martha did her introduction and then it was my turn to go on. Of course despite all the planning, nothing really prepares you the real thing. Martha was quite funny and asked several questions I was totally unprepared for, so she definitely kept me on my toes!


After the interview section we took a commercial break and they set up for the craft segment. Martha was showing how to make potato stamps to use for decorating treat bags (directions can be found HERE). We made them side-by-side while continuing to banter. I must admit making a skull in under two minutes on camera in not my forte. We displayed our end results and after a little more talk about the book Martha actually surprised me with a gift from her and the crew that they had made especially for me...


I was also able to surprise her with a little gift of my own, one of my "I [heart] [skulls]" stickers! She also surprised the audience by telling them that they would all be getting a copy of my book SKULLS! After saying goodbye to Martha it was back to the dressing room for me.

I packed up all my stuff while watching the rest of the show from a closed circuit TV. Then I headed out the studio doors, only to run into the audience as they were leaving as well. I was immediately mobbed by about ten Martha fans who wanted me to sign their books, which I was happy to oblige!

All in all it was an amazing whirlwind experience. Everyone I met there was incredibly kind and only had nice things to say about Skull-A-Day and the book. I can only imagine how stressful it must be to keep a daily "live" show on track and yet, things were extremely efficiently run and people did their jobs with a smile. Color me very impressed. I guess it should come as no surprise then that most people I talked to had worked there for at least 4 years and some as many as 14!

If you miss the show on TV be sure to check on the Martha Stewart website for an online version in a day or two.

And I'll post a photo of Martha and I together as soon as I get the image from the people at the show!